Triana Park
in 2017, with the most outright Eurodance trash of the year called "LIne".
At least it's honest, aswell as also being pure pap...Find out here

After last year's
metaphorical daisy in a cow shit we return to the Latvian field and 2016
is again the cow effluent rather than the flower. Justs is our tan leather
toting metrosexual grinner with "Heartbeat". It's a damp-fan favourite
but it takes all sorts. I can't see it I'm afraid. You can try here

2015 sees Latvia
once more using the Eurosong as a way to freak those most susceptible out,
the mildly alien figure of Aminata will be spreading her arms wide and shrilling
to "Love Injected". She's had something injected that's for sure.
It's here

Aarzemnieki,
apart from being a tricky name to pronounce, is also a tricky student band
to recommend. They missed their Home Economics GCSE but are trying to make
up for it (and failing with a smile on their face) with "Cake to Bake".
Amateurish innocent fluff is here

PeR, a duo of
young gentlemen will be aiming for the virtually non-existant youth club
vote with "Here We Go". Watch them as there they go heading for
the airport on Friday. It's here

At first I thought
Latvia's 2012 chanteuse Anmary was a master of irony. Then I realised she
honestly hopes "Beautiful Song" lives up to it's billing. Well
sorry love, but I'm afraid it's more like a 12 pinter. And it's here

Latvia in Eurovision
continue to appal and distress in equal measure. This time in the shape
of Musiqq, a bespectacled duo gurning through a song about luscious thighs
called "Angel in Disguise". Tragic but incomprehensibly well liked
by the damp fans. Learn more about Latvian rhyming here

The
Tourist Guide says

"Latvia is one of Northern Europe's most exciting
places hidden away from the world's view for over half a century by the
Soviet occupation. Prior to the occupation, Latvia was one of the most
dynamic parts of Europe with exciting possibilities. After the collapse
of the Soviet system, Latvia is struggling to regain its strength and
place in the world.
There is a lot to do and see in Latvia from the untouched nature to the
historic buildings dating back to the days of the great trading in the
Hanseatic League. You can also see elements of the Soviet leftovers -
this makes you step back and wonder what could have been without those
awful years!
Come and experience for yourself this very special country and the possibilities
of its exciting future. Outside of Riga, be prepared to step back into
history as the infrastructure in most parts is not yet developed as that
in Riga. Be patient and understanding and you will have a remarkable experience."

Riga

"Historically, the city of Riga was founded around
the year 1201. However, the land area which is now Latvia was a major
trade route by the Vikings from Norway traveling to Russia and Central
Europe dating back several thousands of years. With all that you are bound
to find something old to explore from the historic churches of Riga to
the 800 year old Krimulda Church just one hour east of Riga. There are
surprises around each corner and in your day to day life."

A
Latvian man who has amazed medics by surviving
what police have described as a "world record drinking binge"
has been told he won't get his name in the Guinness Book of Records.
Latvian police say the middle-aged man consumed around twice the blood-alcohol
level considered deadly.
They say they found the unidentified drinker in an unconscious state,
but medics found he was stable and recorded 7.22 parts per million of
alcohol in a blood test.
An average person would vomit at around 1.2, lose consciousness at 3.0
and stop breathing at a level of about 4.0 parts per million, Ms Zvidre
said, adding: "This is one for the Guinness Book of Records."
It is not known what alcoholic beverage the man drank.
Emergency ward head Martins Sics said there is no record of anybody having
survived such a dose, even in neighbouring Russia which takes pride in
its vodka-guzzling traditions. "He won't remember a thing when he
comes to."

"Anyone
who has had the pleasure of visiting Latvia knows that its inhabitants
have mastered the art of celebration. But this past November they outdid
themselves. A government sanctioned four-day weekend in honour of Latvia’s
independence day just happened to coincide with two Euro 2004 qualifying
matches between Latvia and Turkey, sparking one of the longest alcoholidays
in living memory. It wasn’t quite commensurate with the party after
the fall of the Wall, but it came pretty close."

A man who bought a false passport to flee Russia got more than he bargained
for after finding the paperwork belonged to a wanted murderer.
The 36-year-old man, named only as Arkadiy V for legal reasons, was
arrested on suspicion of murder as he tried to cross the border into
Latvia. Arkadiy allegedly confessed to officers that he was not a Russian
citizen and had wanted a Russian passport to get into Latvia easily.
According to local media, he bought the stolen passport on the black
market in St Petersburg and put his own photo in, not knowing the passport
originally belonged to a murder suspect. He has been charged with presenting
a false identity to state officials.

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Latvia are in the Guinness
Book of Records by producing a three-tonne potato salad ,the biggest
ever. The massive bowl of traditional Latvian Rasols salad surpassed
the previous record - 2,500 kg of Caesar salad made in New York in 2001
- and took only 30 minutes to be devoured. The record-breakers had to
chop 940 kg of boiled potatoes, 340 kg of boiled carrots, 560 kg of
sausage, 6,000 boiled eggs and 310 kg of pickled cucumbers. The giant
bowl of salad then weighed in at the new mark of 3,280 kg.